Recent advice given on a BBC television programme that guided parents to use their name as the main driver of their child’s car to keep their car insurance premiums low is illegal.

On Sunday evening, Top Gear advised people seeking ways to save money on their car insurance that they should have their children’s name as the second driver when in fact the child is the main driver.

The move, known as ‘fronting’ is illegal and has been described as being “a false economy.”

Motorists are being advised to avoid cheating on their insurance policies if they really want to reduce their costs.

Hayley Parsons, chief executive of a price comparison website said: “An insurance policy is a contract based on trust and you are obliged to tell the insurer of anything that could influence their decision in offering cover – the age and experience of a driver are both important facts.”

She added: “As well as being illegal, fronting is a false economy. Insurers are wise to the practise and many now set the price according to the age of the youngest driver on the policy.”

However, Richard Hammond, one of the Top Gear team, did warn motorists of fronting.

He said: “If you do decide to put yourself on your parents insurance and you have a crash, and the insurance company find out that it wasn’t really your car….they won’t pay out, then they can prosecute you and you have to go to jail.”